Justice Maryann Anenih of an Abuja High Court has adjourned ruling regarding an application to seek medical treatment abroad filed by former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello on Tuesday.
The application seeks permission for Bello to travel abroad for medical reasons.
Bello, along with co-defendants Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, was arraigned on November 27, 2024, on a 16-count charge relating to alleged property fraud amounting to N110 billion.
After hearing Bello’s request to travel to the United Kingdom for medical treatment, Justice Anenih adjourned the ruling until July 17, 2025.
Joseph Daudu (SAN), Bello’s counsel, informed the court that he filed the application on June 20, requesting an order for the release of Bello’s international passport to enable him to seek medical attention abroad.
Daudu noted that the application is supported by an affidavit.
However, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed a counter-affidavit, arguing that granting the application could delay further proceedings.
In response, Daudu mentioned that the defendants submitted an additional affidavit on July 7, 2025, which contains 20 paragraphs and is also sworn to by Bello, accompanied by two exhibits.
Exhibit C includes the certified true copy of the ruling that admitted Bello to bail, while exhibit D is from the federal high court regarding the same matter.
Daudu urged the court to consider these documents in favour of granting the application.
Addressing the prosecution’s claim that filing similar applications in both the federal high court and the high court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) constitutes an abuse of court process, Daudu argued that it is valid to seek the same relief in different courts, as the complainant initiated both charges.
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Prosecution counsel Chukwudi Enebeli (SAN), defended the EFCC’s counter-affidavit, stating that Bello should have informed his sureties about his desire to travel abroad.
He emphasized that the sureties needed to decide whether they would continue to support him while he was out of the country.
Enebeli raised concerns that if the federal high court denies the application and the high court grants it, it could undermine the judicial system.
Enebeli also mentioned that Bello is on a “red notice” alert and could face arrest abroad.
In response, Daudu contended that the sureties were already aware and did not need to be formally notified.
He dismissed the red alert argument, stating that Bello had not violated any court orders.
After considering the arguments from both sides, Justice Anenih adjourned the decision until July 17, 2025.
